Town Meeting: Closing the Border

Should the Border Be Closed at All Costs and End Illegal Immigration?

We had a lively discussion, so I figured we could continue that online. Feel free to post questions and opinions on the topic here.

Small fishing boats smuggle people to California

As if border control issues weren't complicated enough, here is one more complicating factor:

http://www.npr.org/2011/11/16/142133395/small-fishing-boats-smuggle-people-to-california

Herman Cain Not Attracting Black Voter Support

The LDS Church and Immigration Issues on the National Stage

Should Joe Paterno have been fired?

There is a major debate in the sports world right now over Penn State's head football coach, Joe Paterno, being fired yesterday. Essentially, the board of directors met and decided that it was "in the best interest of the school" to fire Joe Pa, as well as the president of the school. This decision comes amidst allegations of former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky had sexually assaulted a boy, believed to be 10 years old, in the showers of Penn State's football complex, Paterno did nothing more than inform athletic director Tim Curley and university vice president Gary Schultz of the allegation. Paterno never personally called police.Now you have to keep in mind that he was his personal friend, and that through Joe's decision literally held his future in his hands. So, he kept quiet, and now the 84 year old's legacy will be tarnished. In a statement made Paterno said, "This is a tragedy, It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."

So, the question remains, is Joe a scapegoat taking the fall for the university, or did he truly deserve to be fired after 62 years?

Are you a racist?

I personally believe that one of the most important things we can do to become more accepting and tolerant of others is to become self-aware of the biases inside of us. Only once we understand our own biases and how and who we judge are we prepared to change. I am convinced that much of societies racial tension is created by people that aren't necessarily racist in the same sense that members of the KKK are. Much of the racial discrimination that occurs is more subtle than that. Indeed, I think it is safe to say that each of us has developed racial biases. If we aren't aware of these biases, and we don't control them, they could lead us to act like a racist.

So here is a tool that can help us to become more aware of our own racial biases. It is called the Race IAT, or Implicit Association Test. It was created by a group at Harvard University as part of a study. It reveals preference and bias in regards to race. Here's how you can do it:

1. Go to this link https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/takeatest.html

2. Click on I wish to proceed

3. Choose the Race IAT (although there are lots of interesting tests you can take)

4. Answer the prompts and questions (you do have to provide a little information about yourself for the purpose of Harvard's study)

IS Everyone a little bit racist?

Couldn't help posting this song. Food for thought. ...Thoughts? ;)

Personally, I'd have to agree. I think we can't help but make judgement's based on race sometimes. As Kevin, our guest speaker said, we make 7 assumptions about people in the first 11 seconds of meeting them. 

Maybe we could live in harmony if we all admitted that are all a little bit racist, and then move on. ;) 

Immigrants Find Wealth Despite Knowing No English

Attached is an article from the times that explains the ability that a Mexican immigrant speaking no english was still able to amass a fortune. This is a rather interesting read because it takes the perspective of how this gentleman, as well as many other non english speaking immigrants have been able to find success and the common elements behind their success stories. Their success was all dependent upon capitalizing in areas that were densely populated with those that spoke the language of the entrepreneur. Very interesting read that is applicable to what we have been discussing in class regarding immigration and corresponding co-factors.

NY Times - Immigrant Entrepreneurs Succeed Without English

Secret Millionaire John Ferber Learns the Most Important Lesson

Lost in Detention

This is an excellent documentary about the current situation of immigration and the problems associated with mass detentions and deportations.

Watch Lost in Detention on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

Jim Gilchrist's speech interrupted by a group of protesters.

I feel like both groups have the freedom to share their opinions; however, it was disrespectful for the students to storm into Jim Gilchrist’s speech. The issue with freedom of speech is that it is not well-defined and its limitations are not established.

I consider that freedom should be defined in order to avoid barbarous acts being done in its name. Also, I think that someone’s freedom ends where another person’s freedom begins. Jim Gilchrist’s is a clear advocate and founder of the minute-man and I am sure that he would have tried to persuade individuals to join his cause, but then again every speaker does that- they are trying to promote an agenda. I feel the students in this case had the right to stop something that might have endanger their well-being in the future; for instance, if his speech was going to cause a division or hatred towards them within their campus, then it was better to stop it before it even began.

Even though I feel storming in was an inappropriate way for the students to promote their opinion, I would have done the same thing. If the information the speaker was going to provide was targeted towards the discrimination, hatred, stereotyping, racism towards any human being, then I feel it would be my responsibility to stand up and say something.

The Income Gap, Explained With Candy Corn

http://www.npr.org/2011/10/29/141823761/the-income-gap-explained-with-candy-corn